This document is available separately. It can be retrieved in plain text from
any server running L-Soft's LISTSERV® with the
command INFO REFCARD.
Commands are listed in alphabetical order, with the minimum acceptable
abbreviation in capital letters. Angle brackets are used to indicate optional
parameters. All commands which return a file accept an optional
'F=fformat' keyword (without the quotes) that lets you select the format
in which you want the file sent; the default format is normally appropriate in
all cases. Some esoteric, historical or seldom-used commands and options have
been omitted.

List subscription commands (from most to least important)
---------------------------------------------------------
SUBscribe listname <full_name> Subscribe to a list, or change
your name if already subscribed
ANONYMOUS -> Subscribe anonymously
Following either <full_name> or ANONYMOUS you may specify
individual user options:
<WITH opt1 opt2...> -> with specified user options
SIGNOFF Remove yourself:
listname - From the specified list
* - From all lists on that server
* (NETWIDE - From all lists in the network
CHANGE Change your subscribed address
to "newaddr":
listname newaddr -> on the specified list
* newaddr -> on all lists on the server
SET listname options Alter your subscription options:
ACK/NOACK/MSGack -> Acknowledgements for postings
CONCEAL/NOCONCEAL -> Hide yourself from REVIEW
HTML/NOHTML -> Prefer/avoid HTML format
(especially HTML digests)
Mail/NOMail -> Toggle receipt of mail
MIME/NOMIME -> Prefer/avoid MIME format
(especially MIME digests)
DIGests/INDex/NODIGests/NOINDex -> Ask for digests or message
indexes rather than getting
messages as they are posted
REPro/NOREPro -> Copy of your own postings?
TOPICS: ALL -> Select topics you are
<+/->topicname subscribed to (add/remove
one or replace entire list)
Options for mail headers of incoming postings (choose one):
FULLhdr or FULL822 -> "Full" (normal) mail headers
IETFhdr -> Internet-style headers
SHORThdr or SHORT822 -> Short headers
DUALhdr -> Dual headers, useful with PC
or Mac mail programs
SUBJecthdr -> Normal header with list name
in subject line
CONFIRM listname1 <listname2 <...>> Confirm your subscription
(when LISTSERV requests it)
Other list-related commands
---------------------------
GETPOST listname ref1 <ref2 <...>> Order individual messages from
list archives
INDex listname Sends a directory of available
archive files for the list, if
postings are archived
Lists <option> Send a list of lists as follow:
(no option) -> Local lists only, one line
per list
Detailed -> Local lists, full information
returned in a file
Global /xyz -> All known lists whose name or
title contains 'xyz'
SUMmary <host> -> Membership summary for all
lists on specified host
SUMmary ALL -> For all hosts (long output,
send request via mail!)
SUMmary TOTAL -> Just the total for all hosts
Query listname Query your subscription options
for a particular list (use the
SET command to change them)
* -> Query all lists you are
subscribed to on that server
REGister full_name Tell your name to LISTSERV, so
that you don't have to specify
it on subsequent SUBSCRIBE's
OFF Make LISTSERV forget your name
REView listname <(options> Get information about a list
BY sort_field -> Sort list in a certain order:
Country by country of origin
Date by subscription date
Name by name (last, then first)
NODEid by hostname/nodeid
Userid by userid
BY (field1 field2) -> You can specify more than one
sort field if enclosed in
parentheses: BY (NODE NAME)
Countries -> Synonym of BY COUNTRY
Topics -> Include breakdown of
subscribers per topic
LOCal -> Don't forward request to
peers
Msg -> Send reply via interactive
messages (BITNET users only)
NOHeader -> Don't send list header
Short -> Don't list subscribers
SCAN listname text Scan a list's membership for a
name or address
SEArch listname word1 <word2 <...>> Search list archives
or: word1 <word2 <...>> IN listname
FROM date1 -> From this date
TODAY -> From today
TODAY-7 -> In the last 7 days
TO date2 -> To this date
WHERE
SUBJECT CONTAINS xxxx -> Only this subject
AND/OR
SENDER CONTAINS xxxx -> Only this author
Complex boolean operations are
supported, see database guide
STats listname <(options> Get statistics about a list (VM)
LOCal -> Don't forward to peers
Informational commands
----------------------
Help Obtain a list of commands
INFO <topic> Order a LISTSERV manual, or get
<listname> a list of available ones (if no
topic was specified); or get
information about a list
Query File fn ft <filelist> <(options> Get date/time of last update of
a file, and GET/PUT file access
code
FLags -> Get additional technical
data (useful when reporting
problems to experts)
RELEASE Find out who maintains the
server and the version of the
software and network data files
SHOW <function> Display information as follows:
ALIAS node1 <node2 <...>> -> BITNET nodeid to Internet
hostname mapping
BITEARN (VM only) -> Statistics about the BITEARN
NODES file
DISTribute -> Statistics about DISTRIBUTE
DPATHs host1 <host2 <...>> -> DISTRIBUTE path from that
server to specified host(s)
DPATHs * -> Full DISTRIBUTE path tree
FIXes (VM only) -> List of fixes installed on the
server (non-VM see LICENSE)
HARDWare or HW -> Hardware information
LICense -> License/capacity information
and software build date
LINKs node1 <node2 <...>> -> Network links at the BITNET
node(s) in question
NADs node1 <node2 <...>> -> Addresses LISTSERV recognizes
as node administrators
NETwork (VM only) -> Statistics about the NJE
network
NODEntry node1 <node2 <...>> -> BITEARN NODES entry for the
specified node(s)
NODEntry node1 /abc*/xyz -> Just the ':xyz.' tag and all
tags whose name starts with
'abc'
PATHs snode node1 <node2 <...>> -> BITNET path between 'snode'
and the specified node(s)
POINTs <ALL | list1 list2...> -> Graduated license point
information for planning
STATs -> Usage statistics
(default option)
VERSion -> Same as RELEASE command
(no function) -> Same as SHOW STATS
Commands related to file server functions
-----------------------------------------
AFD Automatic File Distribution
ADD fn ft <filelist <prolog>> Add file or generic entry to
your AFD list
DELete fn ft <filelist> Delete file(s) from your AFD
list (wildcards are supported)
List Displays your AFD list
For node administrators:
FOR user ADD/DEL/LIST etc Perform requested function on
behalf of a user you have
control over (wildcards are
supported for DEL and LIST)
FUI File Update Information: same
syntax as AFD, except that FUI
ADD accepts no 'prolog text'
GET fn ft <filelist> <(options> Order the specified file or
package
PROLOGtext xxxx -> Specify a 'prolog text' to be
inserted on top of the file
GIVE fn ft <filelist> <TO> user Sends a file to someone else
INDex <filelist> Same as GET xxxx FILELIST
(default is LISTSERV FILELIST)
PW function Define/change a "personal
password" for protecting AFD/FUI
subcriptions, authenticating PUT
commands, and so on
ADD firstpw -> Define a password for the
first time
CHange newpw <PW=oldpw> -> Change password
RESET -> Reset (delete) password
SENDme Same as GET
Other (advanced) commands
-------------------------
DATAbase function Access LISTSERV database:
Search DD=ddname <ECHO=NO> -> Perform database search
(see INFO DATABASE for more
information on this)
List -> Get a list of databases
available from that server
REFRESH dbname -> Refresh database index, if
suitably privileged
DBase Same as DATABASE
DISTribute <type> <source> <dest> <options> Distribute a file or a mail
message to a list of users (see
INFO DIST for more details on
the syntax)
Type:
MAIL -> Data is a mail message, and
recipients are defined
by '<dest>'
FILE -> Data is not mail, recipients
are defined by '<dest>'
RFC822 -> Data is mail and recipients
are defined by the RFC822
'To:'/'cc:' fields
Source:
DD=ddname -> Name of DDname holding the
data to distribute (default:
'DD=DATA')
Dest:
<TO> user1 <user2 <...>> -> List of recipients
<TO> DD=ddname -> One recipient per line
Options for the general user:
ACK=NOne/MAIL/MSG -> Acknowledgement level
(default: ACK=NONE)
CANON=YES -> 'TO' list in 'canonical' form
(uid1 host1 uid2 host2...)
DEBUG=YES -> Do not actually perform the
distribution; returns debug
path information
INFORM=MAIL -> Send file delivery message to
recipients via mail
TRACE=YES -> Same as DEBUG=YES, but file
is actually distributed
Options requiring privileges:
FROM=user -> File originator
FROM=DD=ddname -> One line: 'address name'
FOR user command Execute a command on behalf of
another user (for node
administrators)
SERVE user Restore service to a disabled
user
THANKs Check the server is alive
UDD Access the User Directory
Database (there are 18 functions
and many sub-functions, so the
syntax is not given here)
File management commands (for file owners only)
-----------------------------------------------
AFD/FUI Automatic File Distribution
GET fn ft <filelist> Get a list of people subscribed
to a file you own
GET fn FILELIST <(options> Special options for filelists:
CTL -> Return filelist in a format
suitable for editing and
storing back
NOLock -> Don't lock filelist (use in
conjunction with CTL)
PUT fn ft <filelist <NODIST>> Update a file you own
<CKDATE=NO> -> Accept request even if
current version of the file
is more recent than the
version you sent
<DATE=yymmddhhmmss> -> Set file date/time
<PW=password> -> Supply your password for
command authentication
<RECFM=F <LRECL=nnn>> -> Select fixed-format file (not
to be used for text files)
<REPLY-TO=user> -> Send reply to another user
<REPLY-TO=NONE> -> Don't send any reply
<REPLY-VIA=MSG> -> Request reply via interactive
messages, not mail
<"parameters"> -> Special parameters passed to
FAVE routine, if any
Standard parameters supported for
all files:
TITLE=file title -> Change file "title" in
filelist entry
REFRESH filelist <(options> Refresh a filelist you own
NOFLAG -> Don't flag files which have
changed since last time as
updated (for AFD/FUI)
UNLOCK fn FILELIST Unlock filelist after a GET with
the CTL option if you decide not
to update it after all
List management functions
-------------------------
Commands that support the QUIET keyword are marked (*)
ADD(*) listname user <full_name> Add a user to one of your lists,
or update his name
listname DD=ddname -> Add multiple users, one
address/name pair per line
listname DD=ddname IMPORT <PRELOAD>
-> Bulk add multiple users, one
address/name pair per line
ADDHere(*) Same as ADD, but never forwards
the request to a possibly closer
peer
CHANGE(*) listname|* oldaddr|pattern newaddr|*@newhost
Change a subscriber's address
(List owner's version)
DELete(*) listname user <(options> Remove a user from one of your
lists, or from all local lists
listname DD=ddname <BRIEF> Bulk delete multiple users, one
address/name pair per line
if listname is '*'
GLobal -> Forward request to all peers
LOCal -> Don't try to forward request
to closest peer if not found
locally
TEST -> Do not actually perform any
deletion (useful to test
wildcard patterns)
EXPLODE listname <(options> Examine list and suggest better
placement of recipients,
returning a ready-to-submit MOVE
job
BESTpeers n -> Suggest the N best possible
peers to add
Detailed -> More detailed analysis
FOR node -> Perform analysis as though
local node were 'nodeid'
PREFer node -> Preferred peer in case of
tie (equidistant peers)
SERVice -> Check service areas are
respected
With(node1 <node2 <...>>>) -> Perform analysis as though
specified nodes ran a peer
WITHOut(node1 <node2 <...>>>) -> Opposite effect
FREE listname <(options> Release a held list
GLobal -> Forward request to all peers
GET listname <(options> Get a copy of a list in a form
suitable for editing and storing
list and lock it
GLobal -> Forward request to all peers
HEADer -> Send just the header; on the
way back, only the header
will be updated
NOLock -> Do not lock the list
OLD -> Recover the "old" copy of the
list (before the last PUT)
HOLD listname <(options> Hold a list, preventing new
postings from being processed
until a FREE command is sent
GLobal -> Forward request to all peers
MOVE(*) listname user <TO> node Move a subscriber to another
peer
listname DD=ddname -> Move several subscribers to
various peers
PUT listname LIST Update a list header from the
file returned by a GET command
PUTALL listname LIST Similar to PUT but lets you
store the entire list, header
and subscribers together
Query listname <WITH options> FOR user Query the subscription options
of another user (wildcards are
supported)
* <WITH options> FOR user Searches all the lists you own
SET(*) listname options <FOR user> Alter the subscription options
* of another user or set of users
(when using wildcards)
Additional options for list owners:
NORENEW/RENEW -> Waive subscription
confirmation for this user
NOPOST/POST -> Prevent user from posting to
list
EDITor/NOEDITor -> User may post without going
through moderator
REView/NOREView -> Postings from user go to list
owner or moderator even if
user is allowed to post
STats listname (RESET Resets statistics for the list
UNLOCK listname Unlock a list after a GET, if
you decide not to update it
after all
CMS command_text Issue a CMS command and get the
last 20 lines of response sent
back to you, the rest being
available from the console log
CP command_text Issue a CP command and get up to
8k of response data sent to you
(the rest is lost)
DATAbase function Control operation of databases:
DISAble -> Disable interactive database
access, without shutting down
existing sessions
ENAble -> Re-enable interactive access
SHUTDOWN -> Shut down all interactive
database sessions, and
disable interactive access
INSTALL function Software update procedure:
CLEANUP shipment -> Remove an installed shipment
from the log
CLEANUP BEFORE dd mmm yy -> Remove all shipments
installed before that date
PASSWORD shipment PW=instpw -> Confirm installation of a
shipment, when requested by
LISTSERV
RELOAD shipment -> Attempt to reload a shipment
which failed due to a disk
full condition
STATus -> Get a list of installed
"shipments"
NODESGEN <WTONLY> Regenerate all LISTSERV network
tables, or just compile the
links weight file (debugging
command)
OFFLINE Suspend processing of reader
files and disable the GET
command
ONLINE Cancel OFFLINE condition
PUT listname LIST Create a new list
PUTC fn ft <fm|cuu|dirid> Update a CMS file on one of
<RECFM=F LRECL=nnn> LISTSERV's R/W minidisks; note
that this is similar to SENDFILE
+ RECEIVE or LINK + COPYFILE and
should NOT be used to update
file-server files
PWC function Password file management:
ADD user newpw -> Define a password for the
specified user
DELete user -> Delete password for that user
Query user -> Query the password of the
specified user
REGister name|OFF FOR user Set a user's SIGNUP FILE entry
SENDFile fn ft <fm|cuu|dirid> Request the server to send you a
file from one of its disks
SERVE user OFF Permanently suspend access from
an abusive user or gateway
(restore with 'SERVE user')
SF Same as SENDFILE
SHOW BENCHmarks -> CPU/disk/paging benchmarks
EXECLoad -> Statistics about EXECLOADed
REXX files
LSVFILER -> Statistics about LSVFILER
file cache
PREXX -> Statistics about PREXX
functions usage
STORage -> Information about available
disk space and virtual
storage
SHUTDOWN <REBOOT|REIPL> Stop or reboot the server (the
two options are synonyms)
STOP Same as SHUTDOWN
Note: some debugging commands and options have been omitted.
Syntax of parameters
--------------------
filelist = 1 to 8 characters from the following set: A-Z 0-9 $#@+-_:
fformat = Netdata, Card, Disk, Punch, LPunch, UUencode, XXencode, VMSdump,
MIME/text, MIME/Appl, Mail
fn = same syntax as 'filelist'
ft = same syntax as 'filelist'
full_name = firstname surname (*not* your e-mail address)
host = Internet hostname
listname = name of an existing list
node = BITNET nodeid or Internet hostname of a BITNET machine which
has taken care of supplying a ':internet.' tag in its BITEARN
NODES entry
pw = A password with characters from the set: A-Z 0-9 $#@_-?!|%
user = Any valid Internet address not longer than 80 characters; if
omitted, the 'hostname' part defaults to that of the command
originator